Station House Nursery & Preschool

Garden growing, library visits and canal walks give Station House Nursery & Preschool a character rooted in its Burscough surroundings. These were part of children's experience in August 2024, alongside an emphasis on language that began with babies and toddlers. Everyday experiences supplied things to talk about.

At its August 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff used individual play plans to support children with additional needs. The current age range is 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and practising new skills form part of the day. In August 2024, staff used observations of children's learning to plan activities and opportunities to revisit developing skills.

Babies and toddlers explored through their senses, while older children grew fruit and vegetables in the garden. Songs and stories gave staff opportunities to introduce vocabulary and build conversation. The garden added a practical dimension: children could learn about caring for something as it grew.

During that August 2024 period, library visits let children select stories to share. Other outings included feeding ducks at the park and watching boats along the canal. These gave learning a local setting, connecting children's conversations with places beyond the nursery.

In August 2024, children had a key person who knew their preferences and needs, and parents knew who that person was. Staff used encouragement and clear routines to guide behaviour; quiet spaces gave children somewhere to pause when emotions became difficult to manage.

Communication also extended beyond conversations with staff. In August 2024, daily app updates covered children's routines, while progress reports and ideas for managing behaviour helped parents connect home and nursery life. Children practised personal care, including daily toothbrushing.

Meals at that time were cooked using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with dietary needs, allergies and cultural preferences considered. This was an inspection-time food arrangement.

Station House Nursery & Preschool is at Station House, Red Cat Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk, L40 0RA. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year, closing on bank holidays and for three inset days annually. That opening window is useful for families fitting childcare around work.

In August 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. This is a dated funding position rather than a statement of a family's eligibility.

• Teaching feedback. In August 2024, supervision did not consistently give staff precise feedback on their teaching and conversations with children; some planning followed interests rather than learning needs. More precise feedback was the required improvement.
• Settling and communication. The August 2024 arrangements combined a key person with daily app updates. On a visit, ask how those arrangements would work for your child's first weeks and your family's routines.

Station House suits families seeking care across the working week and an experience connected to the local area. Its August 2024 strengths included language-rich play, garden growing and outings, supported by familiar adults and communication with parents. The improvement point concerns the precision of staff feedback and planning, a meaningful consideration alongside that positive inspection judgement.